Today’s big trade (see most recent post, “Trade sends Ovechkin home”) changes the complexion of the Moscow Dynamo team pretty quickly. The athletic Ovechkin will surely find himself skating with creative center Anze Kopitar, but it will be interesting to see who GM Ezec puts on the right side with them. Right now, his choices are speedy young Marcus Johansson,  quiet but steady Jannik Hansen and veteran Mike Knuble. Dublin received Moscow’s top two right wings in the deal, but that is perfectly OK with Moscow fans who are understandably thrilled to have their Sasha home. It seems likely the Dynamo’s second line will feature Dave Bolland, Vaclav Prospal and one of the aforementioned right wings. James Van Riemsdyk, the big American power forward, is also in the lineup and Moscow fans can expect good things as he and Johansson, both 21, grow up together in the organization. On defense, the Dynamo have one of the game’s best in Duncan Keith, along with two stalwart stay at home types in Filip Kuba and Bryce Salvador. Moscow has one important  lineup hole to fill on defense and will then want to get some younger D-man under contract.  Moscow should be set in goal for several years, with 26-year-old Jaroslav Halak.

West of Moscow, Russia’s other EURO team has placed its shiniest star in goal. Pekka Rinne’s native Finland  is only a 2-and-a-half drive from downtown St. Petersburg, although he grew up 700 kilometers away in Kempele on Finland’s west coast.  Rinne was the second player chosen in the draft, behind Gabriel  Landeskog and if any team can feel secure in goal, it is the Lynx. Rinne’s supporting cast, working from the goal out, includes a mix of players –slick passers, rough and tumble hombres, old vets and just a pinch of youth … it is a smorgasbord of hockey talent.  The four defensemen under contract thus far include Brent Burns and Kevin Bieksa as the top pair, and Karl Alzner and Jeff Petry behind them. Petrograd is fully stocked at center and their forward corps will be led by some combination of Brad Richards, Daniel Alfredsson, James Neal and Eric Cole.  Like we said, a smorgasbord of talent. Valterri Filppula, David Legwand and Kyle Wellwood have been brought on to help St. Petersburg push toward the cup sooner rather than later.